levamisole for internal parasites

barbara · Post by **barbara** » 13 Nov 2003, 14:09

I've read pretty much all the listings here (i think) about using levamisole and also thekrib and so on but no one mentions the ph of their water. According to someone who i believe to be a reliable source at Loaches on Line, this med is not effective at ph of 7 or more. Does this agree with others' experience here? Neither of my books on fish health care says a word about ph although both seem to suggest that it needs to be in the food; however, my understanding is that it does work through addition to the water.

Specifically, I am wondering if anyone has experience using it in situations where their ph is above 7.0 and how it has been administered. I have finally located some locally and will buy it but hate to spend the $20 it will cost if i cannot use it. and so far i am a failure at lowering and stabilizing ph so am reluctant to place fish in that situation; particularly since the ones i need to treat are used to 7.8-8.0ph.

Thanks,
Barbara

Adam · Post by **Adam** » 14 Nov 2003, 02:34

Barbara,

I've recently used levamisole to treat a tank with some S. njassae and para cyps. The pH was around the 7.5-8.0 mark. I added the treatment to the water at a rate of 1ml per 7 liters. Then 24 hours later did a 20% water change. It treated the problem and there was no stock loses.

I did get told I could dose as strongly as 1ml per 5 liters.

Adam

barbara · Post by **barbara** » 14 Nov 2003, 12:45

Adam,

Thanks for that information. Can you tell me some more...what you were treating for specifically and what you saw that verified the effectiveness of the treatment? I'm trying to understand more about the use of this med and any details you can provide will be helpful.

Also i will be asking my aquaintance regarding her information about ph...the basis of it and will be glad to share that if you are interested.

Thanks again,
Barbara

Adam · Post by **Adam** » 15 Nov 2003, 02:08

I was treating calammanus, an intestinal worm. I picked it up in the system because I saw the worms hanging out the anus of the fish. I treated at midday. By the 6pm there were obviously fewer worms hanging out. All but the most infected fish were clear by 24 hours. It totally cleared from the most infected fish by 48-72 hours.

Hope that helps.

Adam

barbara · Post by **barbara** » 15 Nov 2003, 14:12

Hi Adam,

Yes that does help. I have been talking more with my friend about this and she had talked to a scientist who works for the company (or one company) that makes Levamisole. Apparently there is some hydrolysis (sp?) that takes place with the med in alkaline water....thus supposedly negating the effects of the med which, usually is going into, for example, pigs' stomaches which are acidic.

I'll send your reply to her for further comment/consideration. As i've expressed to her, lowering my ph is such a hurdle for me, not to mention the fish, that i'm extremely resistant to doing it.

In addition, in case you didn't know this, apparently levamisole also helps build the immune system. When this person gets wild caught fish, she will administer a dose of this even if she is uncertain about worms, basically due to the immune system enhancement. And, btw, she is a person who is not one to medicate fish particularly and has great resistance to the use of antibacterial meds in the fish environment...i think due to resistances that are built up and end up making harmful bacteria more resistant/immune to our antibacterial meds.

Thank you for your generosity in sharing your experience.

Barbara